Police were deployed outside the home of Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday as angry cricket fans staged nationwide protests against the team's probable exit from the World Cup.

Police were posted as a precaution after disappointed fans attacked another house belonging to Dhoni, currently being built, last Sunday when India suffered a shock defeat against Bangladesh.

"Four policemen have been posted outside his house. Another two are at the other house under construction, which was attacked earlier," said M.S Bhatia, police superintendent in Ranchi, Dhoni's home town in eastern India.

Armed police were also guarding team captain Rahul Dravid's residence in the southern city of Bangalore.

India were virtually eliminated from the World Cup after a 69-run loss against Sri Lanka on Friday in Port of Spain, Trinidad, upsetting legions of fans in this cricket-crazy nation.

Only an unlikely victory by first-timers Bermuda over Bangladesh on Sunday will ensure India's back-door entry into the Super Eights.

Posters of Dhoni were burned in Ranchi as protesting cricket fans took to the streets across the country, staging mock funerals and beating pictures of the Indian team.

"We had great expectations from Dhoni, but he scored zero in two matches," said protester Amit Kumar in Ranchi.

In the southern city of Hyderabad, a 32-year-old man died of a heart attack after watching the match slip out of India's hands.

In northern Lucknow city -- where Hindus and Muslims had organised special prayers for India's victory -- protesters blocked roads and burned effigies of players and coach Greg Chappell.

Police spokesman Surendra Srivastava said irate fans blocked roads and shouted slogans against the team.

An angry mob pelted stones at a restaurant owned by bowler Zaheer Khan in western Pune city, Headlines Today television network reported.

In India's financial capital Mumbai, home to star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, protestors strung up effigies of the Indian players on a tree and then conducted mock funeral processions, the United News of India news agency said.

In another part of Mumbai, a group shaved their heads while another blackened their faces to protest the team's dismal performance, the report said.

A mobile phone text message doing the rounds read: "It is a requiem for Indian cricket that breathed its last in Port of Spain. Last rites will be performed on Sunday."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)